Overwhelming Firepower

The Bloodhounds, Viscount Reval Drenwick’s hidden blade. When the job was too filthy for his knights, they were the ones he sent. Kidnapping, murder, blackmail, and anything in between, they carried out every order without hesitation.

Once orphans, they were taken in by the Viscount’s household, broken down, and rebuilt into perfect tools. Obedience was carved into them before they even learned what freedom meant.

Before becoming a bloodhound, they were nameless fangs. Most remained nameless fangs until death. But the few who clawed their way up, those whose instincts and brutality surpassed all, were named Bloodhounds.

***

The leader of the Bloodhounds, wearing a white fox’s mask, was staring at the battlefield, watching the nameless fangs who had eaten hallucinogens charge towards the enemy only to be obliterated.

Blood was the music of purpose. Screams were merely ambient noise.

The enemy force they were tasked to eliminate, alongside the villagers, was clearly no ordinary rabble. They were using unusual spells. At a distance, he saw a large object in the east that was spitting large metal balls, which caused the most damage.

’Not a spell, a weapon. We first need to take down that weapon and, if possible, use it for ourselves.’

The leader then looked at the east side, which had the most mages firing fireball spells every now and then. They were most likely only first circle Mages, who weren’t that much of a threat to them.

The leader then stared at the young man who seemed to be commanding this group of soldiers. Even at this distance, with the bloodhound leader’s enhanced sight using aura, he was able to see clearly.

’White hair that’s like snow, and ruby-red eyes. He must be the eldest son of the Iron Duke... It doesn’t matter. It simply means our prey has a name, but our orders remain the same. Names mean nothing to a hound. All that matters is to follow our orders.’

The leader did not care if the Iron Duke’s son was among the people. The Viscount had ordered everyone in this village.

There was no need for hesitation. Orders were received, and orders were absolute. Thought was a luxury they had long since been trained to live without

”We’ll continue sending the nameless fangs to keep them occupied,” Alpha said, eyes fixed on the battlefield. ”While they’re distracted. Omega, Ghost Fang, neutralize the weapon in the east.”

Two masked figures nodded silently, disappearing like shadows between the trees.

”Beta. Black Maw. Circle around the west. Eliminate the Mages.”

Beta gave a nod, then paused. ”And you, Alpha?”

The leader’s white fox mask tilted slightly. ”I will tear out the leader’s throat myself.”

***

Lucen had already sensed that this human wave tactic by these mindless people was at most a distraction. He had Harlik head to the Thunderspear to protect it.

Mark and Renz, the other two aura users under him, were ordered to move west, where the mages were most vulnerable.

Lucen, who was shooting with his arquebus, scanned the chaos. The wave of mindless soldiers didn’t seem to be diminishing.

Now that they were close enough, he finally noticed that some of these crazed people were teenagers at the same age as Milos.

They were just children, the same as the ones in the village who had spoken with glee, and whose eyes shone brilliantly while listening to the stories told by Harlik and the others.

Still, despite knowing that he didn’t hesitate to kill as he knew that in this situation, a second of hesitation could mean death, empathy was a luxury he did not have at the moment.

Lucen’s eyes narrowed as the enemy neared. His hand rose.

”Light the iron spheres!”

A dozen men lit fuses in perfect sync. Flames flickered. Sparks hissed.

”Throw!”

Iron spheres flew through the air like shooting stars.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The explosions erupted almost as one, amplifying each other in a chain of brutal detonations. The blast tore into the charging line. Dirt. Blood. Limbs. All flung into the air like ash in a storm.

A few dozen fell instantly. Some were flung backward like ragdolls.

”Continue fire!”

Lucen commanded as he tossed aside the arquebus, summoned a revolver into his grip, and began loading rounds with practiced speed.

Then, from behind his back, he drew the Crimson Lord Mk IV. The moment his hand touched the weapon, his posture shifted. The Gun Kata skill was activated.

His skill battle instinct had activated, and he knew that someone had infiltrated their lines and was behind him.

”I know you’re there,” Lucen said coldly.

He could not hear anything, and he could not see anything through the darkness. Yet with Battle Instinct guiding him, he aimed without turning. He pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed. A figure leapt from the shadows, fast, fluid, silent. A man dressed in black landed in a crouch, face hidden behind a white fox’s mask.

The masked man said nothing. His body was low, blades drawn, one in each hand, curved like crescent moons.

Lucen had no information about the opponent he was facing, as the protagonist of the game he used to play had no interaction with Viscount Reval Drenwick.

Still, he knew that the person in front of him was like a boss monster, that’s what his instincts were telling him.

The masked man moved as his body was enveloped by his aura mantle. There was no warning as he suddenly became a blur.

Lucen spun to the side, the edge of a blade nicking his armor. In the same motion, he raised his revolver and fired point-blank.

BANG!

Despite not knowing what kind of weapon was in Lucen’s hand, Alpha was quick to react as he twisted mid-air, allowing the bullet to graze past his chest instead of creating a hole in his heart.

Guided by his Battle Instinct, Lucen was already predicting Alpha’s next move. He then ducked, evading the quick strike of Alpha’s blade.

Lucen pointed his gun at Alpha, who was about to land, and started shooting. With agile movements, Alpha evaded the bullets while backflipping.

He widened the gap, conjuring fresh bullets into the revolver’s chamber. This person was overall weaker than Rugar, whom Lucen fought, but his skills were better.

Lucen, who was not able to form a mantle using his aura yet, could only use his aura to enhance his senses.

Alpha once again blurred and appeared in front of him as if reality had skipped a few frames. Lucen lifted the Crimson Lord Mk IV to block the incoming strike.

Alpha’s blade bypassed Lucen’s sword and almost cut off Lucen’s neck, but instead, Lucen, with the help of Gun Kata and Battle instinct skills, was able to barely dodge the strike. Not only that, Lucen had used this opportunity when Alpha showed an opening to shoot Alpha.

The other party was not able to dodge the bullet properly and now had a hole on the side of his stomach, and blood sprayed behind him.

But that didn’t seem to slow Alpha down as he slammed his boot on Lucen’s abdomen, launching him backward.

That kick was strong enough that it made Lucen, who was fully armored, gasp for air as he slid on the ground.

He tumbled across the dirt but rolled to his feet, dragging Crimson Lord in an arc before readying his revolver again

Across from him, Alpha stood straight. The hole in his side leaked blood freely, yet his stance never wavered.

No reaction. No scream. Not even a wince.

On the other hand, Lucen’s minor scratch on his neck had healed because of the skill regeneration he got from bathing in dragon’s blood.

Still, between the two, it was Lucen who was feeling a little unsettled.